A respiratory therapist is assisting a physician during a transtracheal bronchoscopy. As the
bronchoscope is advanced in the airways, the above ECG tracing is observed on the patient's
cardiac monitor. The RT should recommend? - ANSWER Administration of lidocaine.
After extubating a patient the RT observes the onset of inspiratory stridor. After administer-
ing racemic epinephrine (vaponefrin), the patient still has inspiratory stridor, but a lesser ex-
tent. The therapist should now do what? - ANSWER Continue with current therapy.
Prior to bronchodilator therapy, a patient is tachycardic and tachypneic with bilateral inspira-
tory and expiratory wheezing. 30 minutes after the administration of the bronchodilator, the
patient has normal vital signs and is resting comfortably. Which of the following has most
clearly improved? - ANSWER Resistance to airflow
While monitoring a patient during a traditional t tube weaning trial with an FiO2 of 0.40. the
respiratory therapist records the following data:
-------------------------------------
Data prior to weaning 15 minutes after the start of weaning
Heart Rate
88/min 112/min
Respiratory Rate
12/min 24/min
PaCO2
37 mm Hg 54 mm Hg
PaO2
79 mm Hg 72 mm Hg
1
,Which of the following actions would be appropriate at this time? - ANSWER Recon-
nect the patient to the ventilator with prior settings.
If the flowmeter is set too low on high flow oxygen system, the RT should expect - AN-
SWER A decrease in inspired oxygen
After a patient is placed in the head down position for postural drainage of the right lower
lobe, he begins to cough vigorously and becomes short of breath. What should the RT do? -
ANSWER Sit patient up and reassure him coughing is normal.
Which of the following is best suitable for an adult patient requiring long-term continuous
ventilatory support? - ANSWER A cuffed tracheostomy tube
Nasotracheal intubation would be preferred over oratracheal intubation in which of the fol-
lowing clinical situations? - ANSWER 4; Repair of a fractured mandible-yes/no/no
The most important aspect regarding quality control for blood gas analyst is that? - AN-
SWER The blood gas analyzer always functions properly prior to patient sample analy-
sis
When using a non rebreathing oxygen mask, the flowmeter should be set on? - AN-
SWER Where the bag does not deflate more than one third during inspiration
An ICU patient has been receiving potassium replacement therapy for two days. The ECG
rhythm shown above was recorded on the patients cardiac monitor on day 2 treatment.
Which of the following should the RT initially recommend to further assess the patients clini-
cal conditions? - ANSWER Electrolytes
A RT is caring for a neonatal patient who has a transcutaneous PO2 electrode in place on the
right chest. Over the last 6 hrs, the therapist observes that the transcutaneous PO2 meas-
urement has decreased from 79 mm Hg to 62 mm Hg. The most likely cause for this situation
is - ANSWER The neonates pulmonary condition has deteriorated
2
, After being asked to take a breath , the patient states that he is unable to take a deep
breath. The RT would conclude that the patient is most likely: - ANSWER Uncoopera-
tive
A 52 yr old obese male in acute respiratory distress has just been admitted to the ED. Physi-
cal examination reveals accessory ventilatory muscle use, neck vein distension, and pedal
edema. There is markedly diminished breath sounds and expiratory wheezes throughout
both lung fields. The patient is expectorating copious mucopurulent sputum. The patients
vital signs are: pulse 132/min, BP 196/112 mm Hg; respirations 38/min, and temperature
100.1 deg F. ABG's drawn while the patient was breathing room air are: ph:7.27, PaO2:54
mm Hg, PaCO2: 62 mm Hg, HCO3: 27. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis for
this patient ? - ANSWER Chronic bronchitis exacerbated by an acute pulmonary infec-
tion
The data shows for an intubated , Mechanically ventilated patient receiving an FiO2 of 0.90 -
Cardiac output- 5.9 L/min
- Blood pressure- 132/86 mmHg
- Ph- 7.38
- PaCO2- 42 mm Hg
- HCO3- 24
- PaO2- 61 mm Hg
The data are suggestive for which of the following? - ANSWER Adult respiratory dis-
tress syndrome
The second heart sound ( S2 ) is produced by? - ANSWER The sudden closing of the
aortic and pulmonic valves
While reviewing the medical record of a patient, the RT notes the chief complaints are vom-
iting and diarrhea of 4 days duration. Which of the following symptoms would be consistent
with the patients chief complaints? - ANSWER Poor skin turgor
3
bronchoscope is advanced in the airways, the above ECG tracing is observed on the patient's
cardiac monitor. The RT should recommend? - ANSWER Administration of lidocaine.
After extubating a patient the RT observes the onset of inspiratory stridor. After administer-
ing racemic epinephrine (vaponefrin), the patient still has inspiratory stridor, but a lesser ex-
tent. The therapist should now do what? - ANSWER Continue with current therapy.
Prior to bronchodilator therapy, a patient is tachycardic and tachypneic with bilateral inspira-
tory and expiratory wheezing. 30 minutes after the administration of the bronchodilator, the
patient has normal vital signs and is resting comfortably. Which of the following has most
clearly improved? - ANSWER Resistance to airflow
While monitoring a patient during a traditional t tube weaning trial with an FiO2 of 0.40. the
respiratory therapist records the following data:
-------------------------------------
Data prior to weaning 15 minutes after the start of weaning
Heart Rate
88/min 112/min
Respiratory Rate
12/min 24/min
PaCO2
37 mm Hg 54 mm Hg
PaO2
79 mm Hg 72 mm Hg
1
,Which of the following actions would be appropriate at this time? - ANSWER Recon-
nect the patient to the ventilator with prior settings.
If the flowmeter is set too low on high flow oxygen system, the RT should expect - AN-
SWER A decrease in inspired oxygen
After a patient is placed in the head down position for postural drainage of the right lower
lobe, he begins to cough vigorously and becomes short of breath. What should the RT do? -
ANSWER Sit patient up and reassure him coughing is normal.
Which of the following is best suitable for an adult patient requiring long-term continuous
ventilatory support? - ANSWER A cuffed tracheostomy tube
Nasotracheal intubation would be preferred over oratracheal intubation in which of the fol-
lowing clinical situations? - ANSWER 4; Repair of a fractured mandible-yes/no/no
The most important aspect regarding quality control for blood gas analyst is that? - AN-
SWER The blood gas analyzer always functions properly prior to patient sample analy-
sis
When using a non rebreathing oxygen mask, the flowmeter should be set on? - AN-
SWER Where the bag does not deflate more than one third during inspiration
An ICU patient has been receiving potassium replacement therapy for two days. The ECG
rhythm shown above was recorded on the patients cardiac monitor on day 2 treatment.
Which of the following should the RT initially recommend to further assess the patients clini-
cal conditions? - ANSWER Electrolytes
A RT is caring for a neonatal patient who has a transcutaneous PO2 electrode in place on the
right chest. Over the last 6 hrs, the therapist observes that the transcutaneous PO2 meas-
urement has decreased from 79 mm Hg to 62 mm Hg. The most likely cause for this situation
is - ANSWER The neonates pulmonary condition has deteriorated
2
, After being asked to take a breath , the patient states that he is unable to take a deep
breath. The RT would conclude that the patient is most likely: - ANSWER Uncoopera-
tive
A 52 yr old obese male in acute respiratory distress has just been admitted to the ED. Physi-
cal examination reveals accessory ventilatory muscle use, neck vein distension, and pedal
edema. There is markedly diminished breath sounds and expiratory wheezes throughout
both lung fields. The patient is expectorating copious mucopurulent sputum. The patients
vital signs are: pulse 132/min, BP 196/112 mm Hg; respirations 38/min, and temperature
100.1 deg F. ABG's drawn while the patient was breathing room air are: ph:7.27, PaO2:54
mm Hg, PaCO2: 62 mm Hg, HCO3: 27. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis for
this patient ? - ANSWER Chronic bronchitis exacerbated by an acute pulmonary infec-
tion
The data shows for an intubated , Mechanically ventilated patient receiving an FiO2 of 0.90 -
Cardiac output- 5.9 L/min
- Blood pressure- 132/86 mmHg
- Ph- 7.38
- PaCO2- 42 mm Hg
- HCO3- 24
- PaO2- 61 mm Hg
The data are suggestive for which of the following? - ANSWER Adult respiratory dis-
tress syndrome
The second heart sound ( S2 ) is produced by? - ANSWER The sudden closing of the
aortic and pulmonic valves
While reviewing the medical record of a patient, the RT notes the chief complaints are vom-
iting and diarrhea of 4 days duration. Which of the following symptoms would be consistent
with the patients chief complaints? - ANSWER Poor skin turgor
3
